The Christmas Quilt (17 page)

“I will never give you a reason to doubt my faith or my love. Flying is only one kind of freedom. The love we share is another, more potent kind. I’ve made the better trade.”

“You say that now, but how will you feel in a year or ten years?”

“Rebecca, flying has always been my substitute for you. I don’t need a substitute any longer. Not if I have the real thing.”

“I think I need to pinch myself and see if this is real.”

“Go ahead. You’ll find I’m real and really in love with you.”

“God has truly blessed us, hasn’t He?” She smiled at her beloved and read the answer in his eyes.

G
ideon opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling of his bedroom. It was Christmas morning. The day the whole world celebrated the birth of the Christ Child. Rather than leave mankind to live in the darkness of sin, God sent His only son to bring light and forgiveness to all who would accept His gift.

Gideon rose from bed and dropped to his knees beside it. Bowing his head, he welcomed God’s gift into his heart and gave thanks for the blessings in his life.

God willing, he and Rebecca would spend many Christmas mornings together with their children and grandchildren gathered around them. He prayed for her well-being as he wondered how she was doing after the adventures of yesterday.

Rising, he dressed quickly in the cold room and looked out the window. Fresh snow had fallen during the night, but the sun was shining on the horizon. It promised to be a beautiful day.

Down in the kitchen, he stoked the stove and brewed coffee. His family would be arriving in the early afternoon and there was much to be done.

He was finishing up his chores in the barn when he heard
the bells of a sleigh coming up the lane. He looked out to see Rebecca guiding her horse toward the barn. Stepping out to meet her, he smiled as happiness poured through his veins. She was bundled up against the cold, but he’d never seen her look more beautiful.

“Merry Christmas. You must be frozen.” He held out his arms to help her down.

“I am, but I’m sure you can find a way to warm me up.” With a bright grin, she planted her hands on his shoulders as he grasped her slender waist.

He wasn’t a man to turn from a challenge. He lifted her from her perch, but didn’t set her feet on the snow. Instead, he held her against his chest, her face mere inches from his.

“Merry Christmas,” she whispered before she slipped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

After a long moment, he lowered her to the ground but he didn’t let her go. “How are you?”

She blew out a deep breath. “I’m a bit dizzy, but I don’t think it has anything to do with my bump on the head.”

He loved this lightness between them. “Are you saying I make your head spin?”

“And my heart, too.”

“I don’t have words to describe the way you make me feel, but I will spend a lifetime trying to make you understand how much I love you.”

She pushed away slightly. “I look forward to that, but don’t we have things to do?”

“
Ja,
we have much work to finish before my family arrives. Let me put your horse up and we can get started.”

It took him only a few minutes to stable her mare. When he was finished, she asked, “What’s first?”

“I thought we could gather some greenery for my mantel.”

“Sounds like fun. Do you have a hatchet?”

He picked one up from his workbench near the barn door.
“What self-respecting Amish handyman doesn’t have a hatchet?”

“‘Self-respecting.’ That makes you sound so serious.” She giggled and darted out the door.

Laughing, he chased after her. She was waiting with a snowball in hand. She let it fly and it smashed against his coat. He stumbled to a halt and held up his hand. “No. I refuse to throw snowballs at you.”

She scooped up another handful and casually packed it together. “You don’t have to throw any.”

“Good. After what happened last time, I’m not taking that chance again.”

“Fine. I’ll do all the throwing.” She let loose and knocked his hat from his head.

“Rebecca Marie Beachy, stop that.” He bent to pick up his hat and felt a snowball hit his rear end. He straightened with as much dignity as he could muster, dusted off his hat and settled it on his head. He bent to scoop up a handful of snow and turned to face her.

Rebecca took a few steps back. “You said you weren’t going to throw any at me.”

“I can put snow down your collar without throwing it.” He shifted his weapon from one hand to the other.

“Only if you can catch me.” She took off toward the house at a run.

He caught up with her before she’d gone a dozen feet and swung her into his arms. She shrieked and squirmed, but he held on and turned her to face him. He gazed into her sparkling eyes and knew the joy that had been missing in his heart for a decade. “I love you.”

“Not as much as I love you.” She rose on tiptoe and planted a quick kiss on his lips.

Dropping back on her heels, she patted his chest. “Go cut the greenery. I’ve got to start baking the ham. Vera, Grandpa
Reuben and his wife will be here soon. Adam and Emma are on their way, too.”

Within the next two hours, Gideon’s simple home came alive with the spirit of an Amish Christmas. The smell of pine boughs and food scented the air. Cookies, candy and snacks appeared on the countertops. His family arrived an hour after Rebecca’s. The sounds of happy chatter and conversations filled the rooms as everyone became acquainted. Emma and Adam arrived shortly before three o’clock.

Gideon, his brothers and his nephews spent the afternoon trekking through the orchard to find the alpacas. Snow clung to the animals’ thick coats and long eyelashes as they munched on hay bales Gideon had set out for them that morning. Afterward, the boys occupied themselves with games and coloring books on the living-room floor, enjoying the presents they had received from their parents that morning.

When everyone was settled, Gideon called his mother, his sisters and Rebecca in from the kitchen where they were putting the finishing touches on the dinner they were about to share. Gideon crossed the room and handed his Bible to Reuben. “Would you read to us the story?”

Everyone grew quiet. Reuben opened the Bible and began in a strong, steady voice to read the Christmas story.

Even the children remained quiet until Reuben finished reading from the second chapter of Luke. Gideon glanced at Rebecca. She smiled softly at him and he knew it was time. He thanked Reuben and said, “Before we eat, I have a gift for Rebecca.” He withdrew a large bundle from inside the closet and carried it across the room to her.

She blushed as everyone looked at her with curiosity. The package was wrapped with plain brown paper and string. Rebecca began to carefully work the string off.

“Me do it.” Little Melvin rushed to help. Grabbing the paper, he yanked it apart, smiling at the ripping sound. His
mother quickly snagged him and held him in her lap. He protested until his father spoke sternly in his ear.

Rebecca pushed the rest of the paper aside to reveal the quilt she had made. She looked up at Gideon. “You’re giving it back to me?”

“I took it under false pretenses. It is your gift to give, and I understand if you wish to give it to someone else.”

Everyone laughed. As the families filed into the kitchen, Gideon hung back to speak with Rebecca. “I hope you like your gift.”

“I like it, but it belongs to you.”

“
Danki.
One day I pray we will share it as husband and wife. Will you marry me, Rebecca?”

“Ja,”
she answered without hesitation. Her eyes sparkled with her love as she drew his face down for a tender kiss.

“Marry me soon,” he whispered. “I can’t wait long to make you mine.”

“Only a little longer,” she promised.

“When?”

“Amish weddings take place in the fall. You know that.”

“I can’t wait that long.”

She drew back and shook her head. “We could have a spring wedding, but you know what folks will think.”

“That we’ve got a babe on the way and need to rush things along.”

“Exactly.”

“All right, a fall wedding it is, but early fall,” he insisted.

“October?”

“September,” he countered.

“September,” she agreed. He kissed her once more and she settled against his side, more content than she’d been for ten years. God had been good to her.

Gideon laid his forehead against hers. “Do we really have to wait until September?”

“Ja!”
a chorus of women’s voices answered from the kitchen.

Smiling, Gideon gave Rebecca a quick kiss and together they went in to join the Christmas feast and begin a new life.

Dear Reader,

I hope you enjoyed the story of Gideon’s struggle to return to his Amish faith. Both he and Rebecca made bad decisions for the wrong reasons when they were young. Oh, if only we knew at twenty the things we knew by the time we were forty. A lot fewer mistakes might be made.

Life happens, but we don’t often get the chance for a do-over. Fortunately, I can give my characters that chance. In the same way, God gives us that chance when we admit our mistakes. We get the chance to wipe the slate clean, to start over with a whole heart and a sense of His purpose in our lives.

By the way, the story of how Adam and Emma Troyer met can be found as a free online read at www.Harlequin.com. Just search the archives for a story called
The Inn at Hope Springs.

May the Lord bless and keep you and may He shine the light of His love upon you. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

1. Were you surprised to learn that Amish youth participate in wild parties?
   
2. Was Gideon wrong to keep his identity a secret from Rebecca when they met at the auction? Did you understand his motivation? Why do you feel he was right or wrong?
   
3. Do you have a past guilt that weighs on your heart? How does that affect your relationship with your family? With God?
   
4. Rebecca suffered a debilitating and life-changing event when she lost her sight. Do you know someone who is sight-impaired? What is their attitude toward their disability?
   
5. Did you learn anything new about the Amish in this story?
   
6. What character did you identify with in this story and why?
   
7. Do you believe your community would come together to help a member who lost a business the way the people of Hope Springs gathered around Reuben Beachy when his shop caught fire? Why?
   
8. The Amish are depicted as leading simple lives. Do you believe this is true or is it merely that it appears that way to outsiders?
   
9. What part of the story would you like to have changed and why?
   
10. The practice of shunning is one we find hard to understand. Do you believe it can be helpful for wayward family members or is it a cruel form of punishment?
    
11. Many people feel Christmas is too commercial. What part of our Christmas traditions would you like to see changed?
    
12. Gideon gave up flying to return to his faith. What sacrifices have you seen people make in order to become closer to God?
    
13. Several people have said the Amish seem adept at getting around the restrictions placed on them by their faith, such as hiring drivers instead of owning a car. What do you think of their ability to “bend” the rules? Do you think it diminishes their faith?
    
14. If you could travel only by horse and buggy, how would that change your life?
    
15. The Amish clearly face the same challenges and trials that we face. What do you think makes them so strong?